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Tether has launched tether.wallet, a self-custodial digital wallet that connects users directly to its global payments and settlement infrastructure. The wallet supports Bitcoin, USDT, USAT, and XAUT across Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Plasma, and the Bitcoin Lightning Network. It also allows easy transfers using simple usernames like [email protected] instead of long wallet addresses. Tether said more than 570 million wallets were already using its technology as of March 2026, showing strong global adoption and growing use of its ecosystem.

Deutsche Börse, Germany’s largest exchange group, has invested $200 million in Payward, the parent company of Kraken, acquiring around a 1.5 percent stake on a fully diluted basis. The deal values Kraken at roughly $13.3 billion, marking another major step in the integration of traditional financial institutions with crypto infrastructure. The move highlights growing institutional confidence in digital asset platforms as regulated exchanges increasingly expand into blockchain-based trading, custody, and tokenized market systems globally.

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a formal remission claims process for victims of the $4 billion OneCoin crypto fraud. Eligible investors who suffered losses between 2014 and 2019 can apply to receive compensation from more than $40 million in forfeited assets. Claims must be submitted through the administrator Kroll by June 30, 2026. The scheme impacted around 3.5 million victims worldwide. Founder Ruja Ignatova remains a fugitive, while Karl Sebastian Greenwood has already been sentenced for his role in the fraud.

Aptos has rolled out a major tokenomics overhaul aimed at tightening supply and boosting long-term value. The update cuts staking rewards to 2.6 percent and raises gas fees 10x, with fees designed to drive token burns. The total supply is capped at 2.1 billion APT, while 210 million tokens are permanently locked by the Foundation. Aptos is also exploring buybacks and expects over 32 million APT to be burned annually after its upcoming ecosystem DEX goes live, increasing deflationary pressure.

Pi Network launched a free RPC endpoint this week on its Testnet at rpc.testnet.minepi.com, giving developers easy access to blockchain data, smart contract testing, and app building on its Stellar-based network. Around April 13, the Mainnet also completed its upgrade to Protocol 21, improving stability and preparing for features like decentralized identity and future smart contracts, although it missed the original April 6 deadline. Supporters see this as steady progress toward a scalable Web3 ecosystem, while critics continue to highlight roadmap delays since its 2019 launch.

The FTX and Alameda estate has moved 198,425 $SOL worth around $16M to a bankruptcy-controlled wallet as part of ongoing creditor repayments. The transfers are linked to the court-approved $12.7B recovery plan following the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire. So far, $7.6B has been distributed, while $5.1B remains outstanding. Despite continued movements, $SOL is still the estate’s largest holding, with 3.57M tokens valued at over $293M.

Polymarket prediction markets are showing a cautious outlook for Bitcoin in 2026, with traders assigning a 67% probability that BTC will trade below $55,000 and a 43% chance of falling under $45,000. These odds reflect shifting sentiment as traders weigh macro uncertainty, historical cycle behavior, and weakening momentum after recent volatility. Market participants are also mapping potential cycle bottom zones ranging roughly between 60,000 and 38,000 dollars. The data highlights growing debate on whether Bitcoin is entering a deeper correction phase.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority has issued its first stablecoin issuer licences under the new Stablecoins Ordinance to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial Limited, a consortium backed by Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, and Hong Kong Telecom. Both entities are allowed to issue Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoins, with launches expected in the coming months. This marks a major step in Hong Kong’s regulated digital asset strategy as it moves to build a secure and institutionally driven stablecoin ecosystem.

Japan’s Cabinet has approved a bill to officially classify cryptocurrencies as financial instruments, marking a major regulatory shift. The new framework introduces stricter oversight, including a ban on insider trading and mandatory annual disclosures for related entities. By bringing crypto under financial market regulations, Japan aims to improve transparency, strengthen investor protection, and align digital assets with traditional financial standards. The move signals growing global efforts to integrate cryptocurrency into established regulatory systems.

Iran is proposing a plan to charge about $1 per barrel in cryptocurrency or other digital assets like stablecoins and yuan for oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during a two‑week ceasefire deal with the United States, according to reports. Fully loaded tankers must submit cargo and vessel details before payment, while empty ships may be exempt. Officials say the measure is intended to allow Iran to monitor ship movements and prevent weapons transfers, marking an unusual use of crypto in global oil transit.

A long-running dispute between OKX founder Star Xu and Binance’s Changpeng Zhao has resurfaced following Zhao’s memoir release. Xu claims that in 2014, while Zhao was CTO at OKCoin, he altered a contract tied to a deal with Roger Ver by adding a termination clause. Xu shared past chat records as proof and accused Zhao of dishonesty. Zhao previously denied the claim, citing a hacked account, and addressed it in his book without new details.

Jiang Zhuoer, once a top Bitcoin mining leader in China, says he has shorted Ethereum, expecting prices to fall in the coming weeks and months. Based on on-chain metrics and broader market patterns, he believes the crypto bear cycle is still intact, and any sharp rallies are shorting opportunities rather than trend reversals. Zhuoer also warned that rising geopolitical tensions could trigger fresh uncertainty in markets, calling this period “America’s Suez Canal moment.”